Locking structure for securing wearing apparel

ABSTRACT

Locking structure for securing wearing apparel such as overcoats to coat hangers, coat trees, and the like, and an overcoatlocking structure combination. The locking structure takes the form of an elongate strap anchored to the wearing apparel item itself at a point underneath the turned-down collar thereof. The elongate member is flexible, taking the form of a strap, and is releasably secured, as by snap-fastener means both to the apparel item underneath the collar and also to itself, so that the same may enjoy a doubled-back, stored configuration. Means are provided to lock the strap in position to its retainer so that the same cannot be removed from storage by an unauthorized person.

Ilnited States Patent Standiford 1 Aug. 1,1972

[54] LOCKING STRUCTURE FOR SECURING WEARING APPAREL [72] Inventor:

5., Salt Lake City, Utah 84120 [22] Filed: April 26, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 137,130

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,312,553 8/1919 Limbach ..2/271 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 9/1939 Germany ..2/271 Fred W. Standiford, 434] W. 3630 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Att0rneyM. Ralph Shaffer 5 7] ABSTRACT Locking structure for securing wearing apparel such as overcoats to coat hangers, coat trees, and the like, and an overcoat-locking structure combination. The locking structure takes the form of an elongate strap anchored to the wearing apparel item itself at a point underneath the turned-down collar thereof. The elongate member is flexible, taking the form of a strap, and is releasably secured, as by snap-fastener means both to the apparel item underneath the collar and also to itself, so that the same may enjoy a doubledback, stored configuration. Means are provided to lock the strap in position to its retainer so that the same cannot be removed from storage by an unauthorized person.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FIG. I

PATENTEDAUG I I972 5 I l I g I l l INVENTOR. FRED W. STANDEO/RD BY I W W HIS ATTORNEY LOCKING STRUCTURE FOR SECURING WEARING APPAREL The present invention relates to wearing apparel such as overcoats and, more particularly, to a new and improvedapparel-lock structure, and lock accessory for wearing apparel, wherein clothing items such as overcoats may be secured to coat trees, coat hanger structures, and so forth by a strap that is capable of being locked in place and over associated support structure. Of primary importance in the invention is that the elongate strap-locking structure is conveniently stored at the rear of the coat immediately underneath the turned-down collar thereof. Such a stored position and anchoring eliminates discomfort to the upper back and neck area of the user, were such locking device otherwise stored as on the inside of the coat. Furthermore, the elongate strap may be made longer than the peripheral dimension of the coat at the neck area since the same can be snapped to itself in a doubled-back configurement for proper storage.

In the past, there have been a number of different types of devices used for securing garments or other devices to support structure. Of interest are the following patents:

The difficulty with prior designs is that uniformly they are attached to the inside of the coat near the collar portion. Chains and the like are very inconvenient and also contribute to discomfort of the wearer should the same contact the neck or upper back area of the user. Furthermore, such a locking means, if disposed on the interior of the coat, presents an often unsightly appearance and suggests some discomforture for wearing. Hence, merchants heretofore have considered locking devices as may be used on the interior of the garment as objectionable.

In the present invention, and in contrast with the prior art, the locking strap structure of the invention is affixed to and stored on the outside of the garment, that is, at a neck area of the garment over which the turneddown collar thereof overlaps when in normal position.

The elongate strap is anchored to the garment as by thread or other means and conveniently may be doubled back on itself in a releasable snapped condition so that the length of the securement strap may be designed to be as long as needed to accommodate various storing configurements. Locking means is provided the extremities of the strap so that the free end thereof may loop over the desired support structure and be returned for a locking securement to the strap and/or garment. Preferably a key will be used so that the strap can be conveniently locked in place.

For storage, the strap is releasably secured, at a medial portion of its free length, to the garment and the remaining extremity doubled back and snapped to the strap length itself disposed between the anchored end and the snap medial portion thereof.

Such a configurement has proven highly desirable since the same is completely out of view of an observer both when the coat is worn, and also when it is removed and deposited on a hanger for sale to customers, by way of example. A wearer will not disclose the use "of such strap since it is hidden underneath the collar of his gar ment. Finally, the strap can be made as long as possible since the design permits a doubling back of the strap beneath the collar of the garment.

The features of the present invention, taken together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following drawings, taken in conjunction with a full and complete, detailed specification of the parts and their combination'in- FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary sections taken along the lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a rear view ofa stored coat incorporating the safety-installed strap lock of the invention.

In the drawings, the strap 10 is of an elongated configuration as shown, and is stitched or otherwise anchored at 11 to that portion 12 of coat 13 which is normally hidden when the collar 14 of the coat is turned down. Riveted as by rivets I5 and 16, or otherwise secured to the strap 10 and/or its combination with coat 13 is a lock securement means. This is shown in the form of a snap-lock retainer 17. An upstanding bar 18 is integral with member 17 and receives, selectively, the lock 19 affixed to the remaining end 20 of the elongate strap 10. Lock 19 includes a T-configured portion 21 which is riveted or otherwise secured at 22 to extremity 20 of strap 10. Lock 19 also includes, preferably, a resiliently depressible member 22 provided with a key-type lock 23. Such a lock (23) is in common usage in connection with brief cases, luggage and the like. In any event, when lock 19 at its portion 22 is inserted underneath bar 18, then portion 22 snaps upwardly against its own compression spring (not shown) so that by insertion of a key in portion 23, the member may be locked upstanding. Hence, the lock 22 can only be withdrawn from underneath bar 18 when a key is inserted within key aperture 23, so that the user may be enabled to unlock the same and thereby withdraw lock 19 from engagement with retainer 17.

The strap and coat combination are provided with releasably interlocking snap-fastener means or other suitable securement means. In the drawings snapfastener 31 faces outwardly and is of the female type. Snap-fastener 32, and snap-fastener 31, are fixedly secured as shown as by threads, riveting or other means. Fastener 32 selectively engages snap-fastener receptacle 31, and when so engaged as in FIG. 3, stores the strap conveniently beneath the turned-down collar 14.

Snap-fastener 24 is inwardly directed toward the coat material, may be male or female (positive or negative), and releasably engages snap-fastener 25. The latter is fixedly secured to the coat at 26 by riveting, crimping, threads, or other suitable means.

In construction, the strap may comprise a doublecloth member, a leather member, or other suitable means. The snap-fasteners can be crimped, threaded, or riveted, or pressed onto the elongate strap in any customary method of fabrication.

Of principal advantage in the present invention is the fact that, by the snap-fastener means illustrated, the strap is easily stored, and is preferably out of position underneath the coat collar of the user. See FIG. 1 in this regard.

When the user takes off his coat, in a restaurant for example, and wishes to store the same, then he can simply unsnap the elongate strap from snap-fastener 25, and release snap-fasteners'31 and 32 of the strap 10 itself, so that the strap fastener 10 can now .be positioned over a hanger bar 27 or simply looped underneath the upwardly extending fingers of a coat tree or even above the same, if the construction so permits. In any event, it is easily seen that the coat may be secured, as through a lock to conventional coat trees, coat racks, and so forth.

As an additional feature, if the manufacturer so desires, he may simply secure a piece of clear plastic to the strap, see clear plastic member 28, such that an identification card 29 may be inserted therein. The same may include the name, address, and telephone number of the owner.

It is seen, hence, that the present invention provides a garment or coat design, and an accessory for conventional coats, which will accommodate the basic coat structure to be locked to coat trees, coat hangers, and so forth, this to prevent both theft and also unintentional removal by an unauthorized person. Of primary importance is the fact that the device is stored at the back of the coat and underneath the turned-down collar. In such event, the structure is not exposed to view either from the front or from the rear, and has no undesired feel relative to the neck area of the wearer. The releasable securement means is also deemed unique in that the strap can be doubled-back and stored in a very convenient manner without treversing the entire neck area of the coat. In such event the strap can be made longer than such neck area dimension if it is desired for the accommodating of various types of coat trees, various spacings between hangers and coat racks, and so forth.

While particular embodiments of the particular invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art the various changes and modifications which may be made without departing from the essential features of the present invention.

lclaim:

1. In the combination of a garment having an interior, an outer back, and a collar extending thereabove, and a safety storage strap affixed to said garment: an improvement wherein said garment includes a normally turned-down collar, said storage safety strap being constructed for storage underneath said collar and being provided with opposite extremities one of which is secured to said outer back of said garment underneath the normally turneg-down colla r thereof, the remaining extrermty having irst means or securing said strap about an external object and to the combination of said strap and garment, one of said strap and garment having second means for releasably securing said first means thereto.

2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said first means and said second means comprise key-operated, releasable lock means.

3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said safety strap includes mutuallyspaced, cooperable, snapfastener means for enabling said strap to be doubledback upon itself and snapped, by such snap-fastener means, together.

4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said garment includes a first snap-fastener disposed beneath said collar thereof, said strap having snap-fastener means cooperable with said first snap-fastener and secured to said strap for releasably securing the latter to said garment beneath said collar when in a turned down position.

5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said safety storage strap includes plural, mutually spaced, snapfastener means, selected one of said snap-fastener means being constructed for releasable securement whereby to dispose said strap in a doubled-back stored configurement underneath said collar, said strap also including additional snap-fastener means for securing said strap when in doubled-back condition to said garment underneath said turned down collar thereof, said garment including a snap-fastener positioned beneath said collar for releasably receiving said last mentioned snap-fastener means. 

1. In the combination of a garment having an interior, an outer back, and a collar extending thereabove, and a safety storage strap affixed to said garment: an improvement wherein said garment includes a normally turned-down collar, said storage safety strap being constructed for storage underneath said collar and being provided with opposite extremities one of which is secured to said outer back of said garment underneath the normally turned-down collar thereof, the remaining extremity having first means for securing said strap about an external object and to the combination of said strap and garment, one of said strap and garment having second means for releasably securing said first means thereto.
 2. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said first means and said second means comprise key-operated, releasable lock means.
 3. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said safety strap includes mutuallyspaced, cooperable, snap-fastener means for enabling said strap to be doubled-back upon itself and snapped, by such snap-fastener means, together.
 4. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said garment includes a first snap-fastener disposed beneath said collar thereof, said strap having snap-fastener means cooperable with said first snap-fastener and secured to said strap for releasably securing the latter to said garmeNt beneath said collar when in a turned down position.
 5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said safety storage strap includes plural, mutually spaced, snap-fastener means, selected one of said snap-fastener means being constructed for releasable securement whereby to dispose said strap in a doubled-back stored configurement underneath said collar, said strap also including additional snap-fastener means for securing said strap when in doubled-back condition to said garment underneath said turned down collar thereof, said garment including a snap-fastener positioned beneath said collar for releasably receiving said last mentioned snap-fastener means. 